Manchester United have been given a huge boost in their pursuit for Serie A sensation

Manchester United continue their pre-season preparations when they face Real Madrid on Thursday.

The Red Devils have beaten Lyon and Premier League rivals Arsenal in their hunt to gain fitness ahead of the new campaign.

The Manchester side did lose 3-1 to League Two side Wrexham, however the Red Devils did field a side that consisted of youth players rather than first-team members.

The Red Devils have also been very busy off the pitch preparing for the upcoming season.

Erik ten Hag’s side welcomed the arrivals of goalkeeper Andre Onana and former Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount this summer.

The two new signings have cost the club around £103 million in total, with Ten Hag looking to build a title-challenging side.

However, the Red Devils have still not been able to secure a striker, which is one position that they aim to improve as soon as possible.

The lack of a goalscoring threat in the final third arguably held back the Red Devils last season, as they scored fewer goals than any side in the Premier League’s top six.

Manchester United have been locked in lengthy talks with Atalanta for forward Rasmus Højlund.

Manchester United remain determined to secure the transfer of Rasmus Højlund

The clubs have been a distance apart in their valuations of the player, but they have reportedly now been handed a huge boost.

According to transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, Højlund prefers a move to Manchester United as opposed to Paris Saint-Germain.

The French giants have offered a more lucrative contract to the Dane, but the striker will hold out for a move to Old Trafford instead.

Højlund, 20, has established himself as an attacking threat during his time in Italy.

The forward has netted nine goals in 32 games in Serie A and scored six goals in six appearances for Denmark.

Ten Hag’s side turned their attention to signing the Scandinavian after a deal for Harry Kane looked very unlikely, as Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy continues to refuse to sell the star to another Premier League club.

Højlund’s contract in Bergamo doesn’t expire until 2027, meaning the Lombardy-based club can hold out for a huge fee.

Atalanta are reportedly looking for at least £60m to sell the Danish international, whereas the Red Devils are reluctant to meet the asking price.